Goapele attended the Berkeley Arts Magnet School in Berkeley, California. During these years, she joined several groups that fought racism and sexism. She also sang in the Oakland Youth Choir and joined a group called Vocal Motion. After graduating from high school, Goapele attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where she studied music theory.
In 2001, she signed with Skyblaze Recordings/Columbia Records, and in 2002, she released her first album Even Closer, featuring the single "Closer". She co-wrote and co-produced the entire album, which is a mixture of neo soul and jazz. She also toured North America with band Spearhead.
Apart from her solo work, she has collaborated with rappers Aceyalone, E-40, Hieroglyphics, and Triple Threat, and written for jazz trio Soulive.
Her second album Change It All, featuring the single "First Love", was released in December 2005.
Too Much The Same
Goapele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
seeking a summertime love
just thinking i'm alone
you know with a vibe and flow
what we didn't know
the night and day would show
or if it wasn't meant to grow
how we'd feel within
and why'd you keep a distance
we are emotions ____(?)
i was afraid of what i was feelin'
afraid that you would take my heart and go steal it
my pride my soul
now i know
now i know
'cause we were too much the same
i didn't know
who to blame
'cause i didn't want to change
we were too much the same
i didn't know
who to blame
'cause you weren't gonna change
even though your ways
came down like rain
things in myself i couldn't change
but if we coulda chilled
then waited a while
but then may now (?)
and shooting stars won't send us running
from each other
from ourselves
and when you got me open
you faked in me
why'd you tell me that you love me
and then stray away
what you did that day
i promised i would never go waiting
for someone who would never cnahge
but you can't get something for nothing
so what was mine
sifted through
like it lost time
and unclaimed sand in a desert wind
with half my heart it took you in
so i can let you go
Goapele's song "Too Much The Same" is a reflection on a relationship that ended because the two partners were too alike. In the first verse, Goapele talks about seeking a summertime love and how she was afraid of the feelings that were emerging between the two of them. She sings about not knowing what they were feeling and wondering why the other person kept a distance. The chorus repeats the phrase "too much the same," which shows that they couldn't move forward in the relationship because they were so alike and they didn't want to change.
In the second verse, Goapele acknowledges that there were things about the other person that she couldn't change and that their ways were coming down like rain. She wonders if it would have been different if they had waited a while, but in the end, shooting stars won't send them running from themselves. Goapele sings about the other person faking love and straying away, and how she promised herself she would never wait for someone who would never change. This verse shows that even though they were too much the same, there were still differences between them that made it impossible to move forward.
In the final verse, Goapele accepts that their relationship is over and that she has lost something. She compares it to unclaimed sand in a desert wind and says that half her heart was taken in by the other person. She can let them go now because she knows that she can't get something for nothing. The song ends with one more repetition of the chorus, which emphasizes that they were too much the same and that neither of them wanted to change.
Line by Line Meaning
seeking a summertime love
Looking for a romantic partner during the summer months.
just thinking i'm alone
Feeling lonely despite being surrounded by potential love interests.
you know with a vibe and flow
Assuming that a potential partner would have a similar energy and rhythm.
what we didn't know
Unaware of the challenges and obstacles that would arise.
the night and day would show
As time passed, it became clearer what the potential relationship would bring.
or if it wasn't meant to grow
Uncertain if the relationship was destined to succeed or fail.
how we'd feel within
Curious about how the relationship would impact one's emotions and self-perception.
what we _________(?)
Unsure of what the future would hold for the potential relationship.
and why'd you keep a distance
Questioning the other person's reluctance to fully commit to the relationship.
we are emotions ____(?)
Recognizing that relationships are complex and require managing emotions from both parties.
i was afraid of what i was feelin'
Admitting to being scared of developing deeper feelings for the other person.
afraid that you would take my heart and go steal it
Worried that the other person would break their heart by not reciprocating their feelings.
my pride my soul
Acknowledging that the other person's actions may have hurt their self-esteem and personal identity.
now i know
Having clarity and a better understanding of the situation in retrospect.
'cause we were too much the same
The similarities between the two individuals prevented the relationship from thriving.
i didn't know
Not having a clear understanding of the issues in the relationship.
who to blame
Uncertain who was responsible for the relationship not working out.
'cause i didn't want to change
Refusing to alter oneself to accommodate the other person's needs and preferences.
we were too much the same
Reiterating the difficulty of finding compatibility with someone who is very similar in personality and values.
'cause you weren't gonna change
Understanding that the other person was also unwilling to make changes to better the relationship.
even though your ways
Despite the other person's behavior and actions.
came down like rain
Having a negative and heavy impact.
things in myself i couldn't change
Realizing that there were personal flaws and behaviors that couldn't be easily altered to make the relationship work.
but if we coulda chilled
If both individuals had taken a step back and relaxed.
then waited a while
If they had given themselves more time to see if the relationship could develop and improve.
but then may now (?)
Unclear what this line means, could be referring to the realization that things couldn't have been different.
and shooting stars won't send us running
Even awe-inspiring moments and events wouldn't be enough to bring them together.
from each other
Prevented by external and internal factors from being together.
from ourselves
Referring to their own fears and vulnerabilities that prevented the relationship from growing and developing.
and when you got me open
When the other person finally gained access to their emotions and deeper feelings.
you faked in me
Realizing that the other person deceived and misled them.
why'd you tell me that you love me
Questioning the sincerity and honesty of the other person's statements.
and then stray away
The other person didn't follow through on their promises and commitments to the relationship.
what you did that day
Referring to a specific moment or action that hurt the other person.
i promised i would never go waiting
Making a commitment to not put themselves in a position of waiting for someone who won't reciprocate their feelings.
for someone who would never cnahge
Seeking to avoid further disappointment by looking for someone who is willing to make changes and compromises in a relationship.
but you can't get something for nothing
Reiterating that relationships require work and effort from both parties.
so what was mine
Referring to what they invested in the relationship.
sifted through
Lost or discarded.
like it lost time
Feeling as though precious time was wasted on the relationship.
and unclaimed sand in a desert wind
The remnants of what once was, getting lost and scattered in the vastness and transience of life.
with half my heart it took you in
Despite previous hurt and disappointment, still having some emotions and feelings for the other person.
so i can let you go
Letting go of the emotional baggage and hurt caused by the failed relationship.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIC PETER KRASNO, GOAPELE K. MOHLABANE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind